Does anyone use MG Chemicals Sn63 / Pb37 Solder wire? (488x Range)

[TheBay]

Just got some of this in, not used Sn63/Pb37 before as 60/40 seems to be more common over here, Multicore brand is what I normally use.

About to put together a SDR Transceiver and thought i'd read the data sheet on this solder.
One thing that stands out to me is it mentions "Tip Temperature Upper Limit Do not exceed 260 °C [500 °F]"

That seems a bit low to me, but having not used either MG Chemicals solder wire or Sn63/Pb37 before I thought I'd check up on this.

What temperatures do you guys use with this solder?

[Bud]

That is what i use, 260C with my JBC temperature controlled station, but more of because JBC tips oxidize rapidly. 260C seems to be adequate to me for normal soldering unless i need to solder on ground plane or anything having bigger thermal mass.

[IanB]

I suspect the tip temperature is related to the flux more than the solder itself. When you buy flux cored solder wire, the flux contained in the wire is the most important part of the specification. It can be rosin, or RMA, or RA, or water soluble, or non-rosin, or others, and the percent flux can vary.

You didn't mention what kind of flux your solder has? I would guess if the tip temperature is too high it might prevent the flux operating properly.

[TheBay]

I suspect the tip temperature is related to the flux more than the solder itself. When you buy flux cored solder wire, the flux contained in the wire is the most important part of the specification. It can be rosin, or RMA, or RA, or water soluble, or non-rosin, or others, and the percent flux can vary.

You didn't mention what kind of flux your solder has? I would guess if the tip temperature is too high it might prevent the flux operating properly.

Hi IanB,

It's a RA Flux "4880 - SN63 / PB37 WIRE, ROSIN ACTIVATED (RA) FLUX CORE"

[Monkeh]

It'll be quite aggressive and may burn a little at higher temperatures, probably spit, too, but it'll work fine with any iron temperature you're comfortable with.

[helius]

With [activated-] rosin flux the issue is the speed of activation. If the flux is designed to activate at a low temperature, rapidly heating it above that temp can make it burn up before it's able to spread over the joint and deoxidize it. You might also have flux from farther up inside the solder wire getting prematurely heated and dripping out, leaving a flux-less region that will perform worse than expected.

[TheBay]

It'll be quite aggressive and may burn a little at higher temperatures, probably spit, too, but it'll work fine with any iron temperature you're comfortable with.

Doesn't seem to go through via's very well at 260c, tried it around 320c and seems a lot better.
Going by what you said about that sounds fine. I'll try it between 260-320c.

[IanB]

I think it's also advised that RA flux residues should be cleaned off thoroughly after soldering. I believe the flux is too corrosive to be left behind.

For new, clean parts I have read that RMA flux is OK and is mild enough that no cleaning is required.

[TheBay]

I think it's also advised that RA flux residues should be cleaned off thoroughly after soldering. I believe the flux is too corrosive to be left behind.

For new, clean parts I have read that RMA flux is OK and is mild enough that no cleaning is required.

Yeah I've always cleaned flux off and I have been with this, however MG Chemicals state this "Non-corrosive non-conductive flux residue
 Optional cleaning"

Not sure how that works, but interesting none the less.

[Bud]

Well, i believe them on this one. I' ve seen their flux cleaning solutions that do not clean flux and adhesive removers that did not remove adhesives. So yeah, no worries about MGChemical products possibly causing harm.
 

[GreyWoolfe]

I use MG Chemicals 845 liquid flux and it also is non corrosive/conductive.  I still clean the flux off so my work looks pretty    91% IPA and an old toothbrush does a fine job of removal.

[pigrew]

I have their 4890 60/40 solder. For through hole work, it takes too long (maybe 30 seconds) for ground plane connections while the iron is at 500F. I usually use it at 640F. Or maybe it should take that long in order to reduce thermal shock? Or I need to use a much larger tip?

[helius]

30 seconds is much too long. You can either use preheating (to around 150C or 300F), or a faster recovery iron, or a tip with more thermal capacity. However, 640F is a reasonable temperature, unless you have very delicate parts. Even 700F is acceptable for production soldering: the standard Metcal tip series is fixed at 700F.

[IanB]

I have their 4890 60/40 solder. For through hole work, it takes too long (maybe 30 seconds) for ground plane connections while the iron is at 500C. I usually use it at 640F. Or maybe it should take that long in order to reduce thermal shock? Or I need to use a much larger tip?

Did you mean to write 500C there?

The most important thing when soldering ground planes is the thermal output of the iron and its ability to maintain tip temperature under heavy thermal drain. You tend to need the more expensive irons to be able to do that effectively.

[pigrew]

I have their 4890 60/40 solder. For through hole work, it takes too long (maybe 30 seconds) for ground plane connections while the iron is at 500C. I usually use it at 640F. Or maybe it should take that long in order to reduce thermal shock? Or I need to use a much larger tip?

Did you mean to write 500C there?

The most important thing when soldering ground planes is the thermal output of the iron and its ability to maintain tip temperature under heavy thermal drain. You tend to need the more expensive irons to be able to do that effectively.

Good catch... Post edited.

I was just trying to install a RF connector (rework), and the board didn't have enough clearance to use a big tip.

I didn't realize that preheaters were an option for through hole work? I've only used them for surface mount.

I think the <500F limit is completely impracticable.